United States-based IRX Therapeutics has revealed results from a Phase 2a clinical trial of IRX-2, the company's lead drug candidate, intended for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, at the European Society for Medical Oncology Annual Congress 2017, it was reported yesterday.

Gregory T Wolf M.D, professor emeritus, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, stated, 'The results presented today demonstrate that IRX-2, a primary cell-derived biologic, drives intratumoral immune infiltration of T cells, B cells and dendritic cells, promoting their activation. This increase in lymphocyte infiltration was associated with reductions in tumour size and an overall survival rate of 65% at 5 years in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. These data demonstrate that IRX-2 modulates the tumour microenvironment in cancer cells and may improve patient outcomes in this difficult-to-treat patient population.'

In a subdivision study of seven patients, it was also indicated that the product upregulates immune checkpoint markers, including PDL1 and CTLA4 expression, suggesting that the effect of IRX-2 treatment is likely to be improved by combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitors.

The clinical trial also indicated that the product promotes expression of chemokine pathway genes (CCLs, CCRs, CXCLs and CXCRs), which are chemoattractants whose expression is likely to result in increased lymphocyte infiltration.